The Power of Influence

Alden and Hazel Flanders

Bennett Flanders

I grew up loving the University of Georgia. In 7th and 8th grade, I wore some sort of Georgia shirt at least three days a week to school. I dreamed that Vince Dooley, the Bulldogs' legendary coach, would discover me. After I led the team to a National Championship and brought home a couple of Heismans, I'd be the biggest hero to ever put on that red jersey and the helmet with the beautiful black G.

I did meet Coach Dooley once, but it took me buying a Georgia necktie at the Belk store in Athens to do it. He shook my hand, but no scholarship was forthcoming. They never gave me a Heisman, but I did get a nice diploma. And, I met my beloved during our last quarter at the University.

Both of our sons went to and graduated from Georgia. Our youngest, Cole, met his wife, Alecia, there. Our older son, Miles, went back to the Vet School, making him what people refer to as a Double Dawg. He met his wife, Kimberly, after graduating from the Vet School. She's a Double Dawg, too. That means we've got eight University of Georgia degrees spread among the six of us.

So, we're a Georgia family, and we're all doing our best to pass the tradition on to the next generation. From the looks of the pictures taken earlier this Fall, everything seems to be going according to plan. Hazel appears ready to hit the sideline and Alden looks like he scored a touchdown. Bennett was about six months old in his picture, but he already looks like a natural.

Just over a year ago, Cole was named to be the Operator of a new Chick-fil-A restaurant in Valley, Alabama, which means my two oldest grandchildren have literally crossed the river (Chattahoochee) and are residing in a foreign land. They are now spending their lives around people who say things like "Roll Tide" or who think orange and blue-the colors of Auburn-are more lovely than the Red and Black of old Georgia. The influence of Auburn, which is barely 30 minutes from Valley, is particularly strong.

Hazel turned five last March, which means that she has entered Kindergarten in the Alabama Public School System. Her teacher, Miss Colley, seems like a very nice young lady and Hazel adores her. Miss Colley loves Auburn. Many of Hazel's classmates are the children of Auburn fans and graduates. Hazel, however, has been taught well, and we've been confident she'd remain true to her native land and tribe.

WAR EAGLE. She said it the other day when we were in Valley to celebrate the one-year birthday of their Chick-fil-A. Oh, she smiled and giggled, and her friends with her, and then she said it again-"War Eagle," the battle cry of . . . Auburn University.

A brief word of explanation may be in order for those unfamiliar with certain aspects of college football in the American South. Auburn's mascot is a Tiger, but they say, "War Eagle." Don't ask me why. Alabama is the Crimson Tide, and their mascot is an Elephant. Don't ask me why on that, either. My school's mascot is a Bulldog and we say, "Go Dogs," properly pronounced, "Go Dawgs." I don't think you have to ask me why on that, but I digress from the matter at hand. That precious child in that beautiful Georgia Bulldog cheerleader uniform said . . . War Eagle.

I recently saw a video about a baby duck being raised by a pair of loons on a lake up in rural Minnesota. Ducks and loons don't typically get along, but don't tell that to this oddball family. The amazing thing is that the duck looks like a duck but acts like a loon. It even dives underwater to catch and then eat live fish, something ducks don't typically do. It's the power of influence.

When I was in college, we had a male sheep on our farm. He hung out with the horses so much that he thought he was one of them. He'd come running when we whistled for them and oftentimes, when it was raining, you'd see him standing under one. The power of influence. I even had a professor who said his family found a orphan baby skunk and dropped it in with a litter of kittens. The Mama Cat adopted it and treated it like her own offspring. He said the skunk would even mimic the cats by arching its back and purring. The power of influence.

All of that points to why God created the Church and then called those who follow Him to be a part of it. We need each other. The very beginning of the Bible proves then when God says of Adam that it "is not good for the man to be alone." Of course, we see that Adam and Eve still manage to make a mess of things even when they're working together, but just think how bad it might have been? We're made for each other, and we need each other.

I know I'm a better person due to my connection to the Church. I learn from watching how others live and deal with challenges and problems, even with success and triumph. I'm encouraged to be more kind and loving, more forgiving and patient, more faithful and trusting. The Gospel rubs off on me through my relationship with other believers. It's the power of influence.

So, I'm not really surprised that Miss Hazel is gravitating toward the Auburn side of the field. Maybe it's just a passing phase. Maybe. But, maybe not. The power of influence is mighty strong, you know.

I have to admit, she really is cute when she says, "War Eagle." But that doesn't mean I can't start praying Chick-fil-A will move the whole family to Athens.